Six students from Harvard University are interning in South Africa and working to better the lives of people living with HIV.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Eight students from one of the USA’s top tertiary institutions, Harvard University, have arrived in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) for an intensive internship programme to learn about important HIV-prevention and cure research underway in the South Africa.
The five women and three men arrived in the province earlier this month, where they will spend the next two months. For all eight Harvard undergrads, it’s their first trip to South Africa.
Drawn by the opportunity engage in global health research, the eight internship finalists were selected by a committee that included senior HIV scientists from the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) and HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela Medical School.
Six of the students will be based in the Durban area, at either the FRESH clinical research site in Umlazi’s W Section or one of the research laboratories, AHRI or HPP.
FRESH (Females Rising Through Education, Support and Health) is a unique clinical study that combines HIV cure research with an empowerment programme for young Umlazi women that includes computer and job skills training
“We loved the idea of bringing Harvard students over to work side-by-side with their South African counterparts and allowing them to engage in cutting edge HIV-research with leaders in the field, says Dr. Krista Dong, the Clinical Director of the FRESH study.
“This internship will give me a chance to participate in HIV-research with people who are passionate about developing a cure,” says Mazuba Siamatu – a Zambian, who’s about to enter his third year of studies at Harvard.
“This internship is unique because the projects that I’ll be involved with will have a real impact on the FRESH program and the future of HIV-research. It is very exciting because I am able to learn many new skills and experience personal growth, while also making a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Nellie Ide, a third year Harvard student from Minnesota.
“I believe it will be a transformative experience, conducting research at the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic … under the supervision of scientists who share the same passion towards alleviating the suffering caused by the epidemic as I do,” added Siamatu.
The final two interns will be based at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg where they will work with ITEACH, an NGO that is a longstanding partner of the KZN Department of Health and focused on improving TB and HIV care in under-resourced communities.
“Having their first exposure to research here, in the place that has the highest HIV-burden in the world, will shape the way they look at health care and the kind of leaders they will become in the future,” says Dong.
“This is the first year for the internship, but we’d like to see it continue for many years to come, as we continue to build upon the strong collaborative relationships between Harvard and South African researchers here in KwaZulu-Natal,” says Dr. Dong.
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